looking steadfastly into the glowing coals. Not that, following a
favourite practice of his little niece, he was making out red-hot
castles and flaming buildings in the grate, or that his thoughts were in
any way connected with the embers: he was doing what it would be well if
we all sometimes did,--looking into himself, and reflecting on what had
happened in relation to his own conduct.

"So," thought he, "here am I, an honest old fellow,--I may say it, with
all my faults; and one who shrinks from falsehood more than from fire;
and I find that I, with my bearish temper, am actually driving those
about me into it--teaching them to be crafty, tricky, and cowardly! I
knew well enough that my gruffness plagued others, but I never saw how
it _tempted_ others until now; tempted them to meanness, I would say,
for I have found a thousand times that _an angry man stirreth up
strife_, and that a short word may begin a long quarrel. I am afraid
that I have not thought enough on this matter. I've looked on bad temper
as a very little sin, and I begin to suspect that it is a great one,
both in God's eyes and in the consequences that it brings. Let me see
if I can reckon up its evils! It makes those miserable whom one would
wish to make happy; it often, like an adverse gale, forces them to
back, instead of steering straight for the port. It dishonours one's
profession, lowers one's flag, makes the world mock at the religion
which can leave a man as rough and rugged as a heathen savage. It's
directly contrary to the Word of God,--it's wide as east from west of
the example set before us! Yes, a furious temper is a very evil thing;
I'd give my other leg to be rid of mine!" and in the warmth of his
self-reproach the sailor struck his wooden one against the hearth with
such violence as to make Alie start in terror that some fierce explosion
was about to follow.